Super Glasgow go third

A fantastic performance from Glasgow Warriors saw them run out 27-9 victors to move third in the PRO12 at Scotstoun on Friday.

A fantastic performance from Glasgow Warriors saw them run out 27-9 victors to move third in the PRO12 at Scotstoun on Friday.

Glasgow headed into the game on the back of four straight wins, while Ulster were looking to make it two on the bounce following a thumping triumph over Connacht. But the visitors relinquished an early lead and failed to score in the second half as the Warriors' strong run continued.

Finn Russell, now a serious contender for the Scottish number ten jersey, turned in a fine display alongside fellow Test hopeful Mark Bennett at outside centre. The pivot slotted a penalty goal to give Glasgow the lead in the ninth minute, but the hosts' indiscipline cost them in the period that followed, as Paddy Jackson kicked three penalties in nine minutes to make it 3-9.

But on the stroke of half-time Glasgow responded to take the lead, when Sean Maitland stormed onto Russell's well-timed offload to crash over. Russell added the conversion to make it 10-9 to the Warriors.

And the hosts strengthened their grip on the game following the restart, as Russell added a second penalty before Tommy Seymour crossed the line off the back of a rumbling maul to extend the Warriors' lead. Russell added the conversion, but controversy was yet to unfold.

Kiwi number eight looked to have got Ulster back into the game when he crashed over under similar circumstances to the home winger, but the TMO adjudged the ball to be held up. Great work from replacement hooker Pat MacArthur, who got under the powerhouse back-row, but the visitors were right to feel aggrieved that a try was not awarded.

The game-clinching score came when Bennett cut a super line through the Ulster midfield, and though the ball appeared to slip from his grasp as he stretched for the line, replays showed the grounding was good. Russell was on target once more, and so the door closed on any hope of an Ulster comeback.

The Warriors continued to push in the minutes that followed, in front of a record crowd at Scotstoun, but failed to register the crucial bonus-point try as forced attacking play and resolute defence from the ragged visitors combined to thwart them.